Peace River-South MLA Mike Bernier, on behalf of Premier Christy Clark, will present Larry White, a well-known Tumbler Ridge citizen, with the province’s newest honour, the Medal of Good Citizenship.

The ceremony will be held Saturday, March 4, 2017, at noon at the Dinosaur Discovery Galley and Peace Region Paleontology Research Centre, 255 Murray Dr., Tumbler Ridge.

Launched in July 2015 by Premier Clark, the prestigious Medal of Good Citizenship recognizes individuals who, through exceptional long-term service, have made outstanding contributions to their communities without expectation of remuneration or reward. The medal reflects their generosity, service, acts of selflessness and contributions to community life. Nominations for the Medal of Good Citizenship are accepted year-round.

White will be honoured with the medal for the leadership and volunteer hours he has contributed to a wide range of civic, cultural, historical, outdoors, and youth organizations and activities in the Northern B.C. community.

Since moving to Tumbler Ridge with his wife Crys in 2001 his service to community and countless hours of volunteering include:

• Serving as vice-president on the Wolverine Nordic and Mountain Society White also helps develop and maintain the ski cabin as well as hiking and cross-country trails. He led the partnership with BC Parks in Monkman Provincial Park to build backcountry trails and campsites and runs Itchy Feet, the group’s armchair travel club.
• An active volunteer and director of the Tumbler Ridge Museum Foundation, White attended training at the Royal Tyrrell Museum so as to voluntarily participate in B.C.’s first dinosaur excavation and he assists his wife run the Tumbler Ridge Archives.
• For years he has been the race supervisor of the Emperor’s Challenge on Mount Babcock and the biggest off-road running event in B.C.
• A member of the Grizzly Valley Saddle Club board of director, he volunteers with trail construction and maintenance and arena maintenance, and has an assistant donkey handler for many events.
• He volunteers for the Tumbler Ridge Community Garden and is the president of its Board of Directors.
• He volunteers for the Tumbler Ridge Community Forest and Emergency Social Services (ESS), and has been president of the library board.
• The community can better serve youth through his many of his efforts including fundraising for and the construction of the community skate park, obtaining the climbing wall for the teen centre, travelling to the Yukon to bring it to Tumbler Ridge and then helping train volunteers to operate the equipment and belaying of climbers; and coaching baseball and coaching and refereeing minor hockey.

In addition to those contributions, White was involved from the onset of the drive to develop the Tumbler Ridge Aspiring Geopark, which in 2014 was designated the Tumbler Ridge UNESCO Global Geopark, the second Global geopark in North America. As well as being a director and past vice president of the organization, he is the Geopark’s representative on the Canadian National Committee for Geoparks and attends UNESCO Global Geoparks conferences.

While White is being nominated for his volunteer contributions, his professional and political careers were also spent in the service of others. He served in the Royal Canadian Navy from 1970 to 1996, qualifying as an engineer, serving in the Persian Gulf, and rising to the rank of Lieutenant Commander. He served for three years as councillor in Tumbler Ridge, followed by three years as mayor, and served on the Board of the Peace River Regional District.

White is among a select group of British Columbians who will receive the Medal of Good Citizenship over the next few months.

Quotes:

Premier Christy Clark –

“Everywhere you go in Tumbler Ridge, you see a community or institution where Larry White has left his mark. From competitive off-road running events, maintaining spectacular hiking trails, and helping drive the Tumbler Ridge UNESCO Global Geopark, Larry has invested a lot of time and energy in his corner of the world – and it shows.”

Shirley Bond, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training, and chair of the Medal of Good Citizenship Selection Committee –

“The Medal of Good Citizenship recognizes the people in our province who generously and selflessly volunteer their time, effort and skills to make their community better. It was inspiring to work with the selection committee to review nominations and see how one person can make a difference. This year, as we celebrate Canada’s 150th anniversary, it is important to recognize individuals who make their communities and, ultimately, their country better.”

Mike Bernier, MLA Peace River-South –

“The amazing diversity of volunteer activities makes Larry White a highly valued citizen who makes a difference in his community for people of all ages, and especially for its youth. Tumbler Ridge is better because of the generosity of people like Larry helping to make our community thrive.”

Larry White, Medal of Good Citizenship recipient –  

“I am extremely honoured to receive the BC Medal of Good Citizenship. It has been a pleasure to work with the various groups and organizations. I thank the many individuals who singled me out among an amazing group of volunteers in Tumbler Ridge.”

Quick Facts:

• The Medal of Good Citizenship was launched in 2015 to recognize individuals who, through exceptional long-term volunteer efforts, have made outstanding contributions to the well-being of their communities.
• Since the first medal was presented in October 2015, 23 individuals and two communities have been named as recipients of the Medal of Good Citizenship.
• Nominations for the Medal of Good Citizenship are accepted year-round.
• An independent Selection Committee reviews nominations and recommends recipients.
• All regions in the province were represented on the Medal of Good Citizenship Selection Committee and members came from various professional backgrounds.
• Additional medal presentation ceremonies will be held throughout the province in the coming months.

Learn More:

To learn more about the medal, or to nominate a good citizen in your community, visit: www.gov.bc.ca/medalofgoodcitizenship

To view photos of recipient ceremonies, visit: https://flic.kr/s/aHskw9MKjm

Find out more about previous years’ recipients of the Medal of Good Citizenship: http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/celebrating-british-columbia/honours-and-awards/medal-good-citizenship/recipients